Life-saving suit



March 19, men I AUD 1,706,097

LIFE savme SUIT Filed Feb. 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Thoma/2 E Aud= I BY ATTORN EY March 19,1929. T, E. AUD 1,706,097

LIFE SAVING sun Filed Feb. 23, 192'? a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7720i :5 EA Zl/d ATTORNEY March 19, 1929. T. E. AUD

LIFE SAVING s'UI r Filed Feb. 23, 1927 a Sheets-sheet 5 Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS EDGAR AUD, OF HERNDON, VIRGINTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUD COMPANY,

INCORPORATED, or LEESBURG,

VIRGINIA.

\ LIFE-SAVmG Application filed February 23, 1927. Serial No. 170,269.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in life saving suits, and has particular reference to a novel construction of the suit and .means for closing an 6 entrance opening therein, whereby a suit of simple construction is provided which may be easily and quickly put on and taken off aiid whereby a quick and water-proof'closure of the entrance opening may be effected.

The object of the inventlon is to provide a suit for life saving, swimming and analogous purposes, which may be applied with great ease and speed and which will effectually seal the entrance opening against the intrusion of water.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the suit as applied for use and showing the wearer in the act of operating the closure slide for a closure action.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the closure slide in closing position.

Figure 3 is a froirt View on an enlarged scale of a portion of the garment and the closure slide.

Figure 4 isa cross-section on line 4 4: of Figure 3.

Figure 5 Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the closure :37, slide.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the same.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a suit showing the application of the invention 'for closing a differentarrangement of entrance opening.

Figure 9 is a front ploying. the shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view of the lower portion of the suit shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross-section through the lower ends of the sealing strips shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

Figure 12 is a detail view of the clip.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 7, thereof, 1 designates a life saving suit of integral or union type, in which the trousers portion 2 and jacket portion 3 of the suit are permanently conis a cross-section online 55 of view of the suit ems construction fragmentarily nected. The legs of the trousers portion 2,

as shown, terminate in foot portions, socks or boots 4, while the jacket portion 3 is provided with sleeves 5 terminating in gloves or mittens 6. The suit as thus constructed is adapted to receive and envelop the person of the wearer from feet to neck, and its jacket portion is provided with a suitable neck band 7. All these portions of the suit are made of some suitable strong and durable water-proof material, such as soft vulcanized rubber or any suitable combination of rubber and fabric, any seams used for uniting the parts where necessary being of water-tight character. 7 i

The suit is provided with an entrance opening 8 extending horizontally or transversely across the front of its jacket portion from side to side of the jacket, the ends of said' opening terminating just below the arm pits. This opening divides the front portion of the jacket into an upper part or breast portion 9 and a lower part or abdominal portion 10.- This breast portion 9, the com- ,panion part of the back of the suit, the sleeves 5 and the neck band 7 are thus adapted to swing or hinge backwardly on the back portion'ofthe suit as a hinge member, or, in other words, the upper part of the suit above the horizontal line of the lower meeting edge 'of the opening 8 may be'swung downward parallel with the back of the suit below such horizontal line, so that the rem. inder of the garment below said horizonta line will be accessible through the opening 8. \Vhen the above-mentioned upper part of the suit isthus swung backwardly, the person desiring to don the suit may step into the trousers portion and lower half of the jacket portion through the opening 8 and draw such ortions of the suit upwardly upon, him, a ter which he may pull the downturned upper portion of the suit upward over his shoulders and head and insert his arms into the sleeves 5 and pass his head through the opening of the neck band 7, thus fully fitting the suit upon his person -so that, upon the closure of the opening 8 in a water-tight manner, the body of the and water-tight manner. 12 and their flanges are such as to permit the suit toTbe' applied in the manner described. The neck band I may be' of elastic character so that it will closely hug the neck and automatically ads just itself to fit necks of different s1zes.'- In connection with the suite head covering or helmet, not shown, of any suitable type may be used to give such'protection to the head therewith, and which are secured to the meeting edges of the garment forming the marginal edges of the opening in any secure The strips 11 and of semi-flexible character, having a suflicient degree of stiffness for form sustaining purposes and a certain 'degree'of flexibility to' adapt them to accommodate themselves to-the movements of portions of the suit underthe movements of the wearer as well as to be brought into close sealing contact and to interlock for a fastening action,'as hereinafter described.

For the purposes mentioned, the strips may be made of semi-vulcanized rubber, or a mlxture of rubber and fibre, or molded rubber and fabric. The strips have broad contacting sealing faces, and the sealing face of one strip is provided with a longitudinally extending locking and sealing rib or tongue 14 to engage a longitudinally extending locking and sealing groove 15 opening through the meeting face of the other strip. The rib or tongue and the groove are of angular form in cross-section, each-being of greatest width centrally of its depth, or the groove and tongue being of uncut or dovetailed construction so as to effect a'combined locking and sealing action. In the present instance the groove and rib or tongue are of hexagonal, form in cross-section, so that when the tongue is forced under pressure through the narrow outer side of the groove and seats fully in the groove the overhang: ing walls of the outer side of the groove a will overlap the inner walls of the tongue and thereby provide a locking connection which will prevent the tonguefrom being withdrawn or displaced from the groove unless a comparatively great degree of extracting force is used.

A pressure applying and locking device 16 is employed for forcing the strips together and the rib 14 into the groove 15, so as to effect a sealing of the opening 8, and for holding the strips in sealing relation. This pressure applying and locking device comprises a blockor body of generally oblong rectangular form closed at its outer side and open at each end and at its inner side so as to receive and snugly embrace the strips 11 and 12. The space between the three walls .of the block provides a channel in which the strips are received, and this space or channel 1s beveled or flared in one direction, by

proper formation of the top and bottom the block 16 is slidably mounted on the strips and held thereon from outward displacement.

A suitable handle or gripping projection 19 is provided upon the outer side of the block whereby itmay be manipulated for a sealing and locking action and for retraction whenever it is desired to effect an unlocking and unsealing action.

' Figure 1 shows the suit applied for use- 1 and illustrates the manner in which the block 16 is adjusted for a sealing and locking action. In its normal position the block 16 lies at one end of the opening 8, that is to say, at one side of the front of the suit shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3. This block is gripped in one hand of the operator and .slid across the strips 11 and 12 until it reaches a final position at the other end of the opening, namely, at the opposite side of the front of the suit. As the block is thus moved along the strips its wedge surfaces force the strips 11 and 12 together and thereby force the tongue or rib 13 into the groove 15 until, when it reaches its final position, the sealing faces of the strips are brought into intimate contact and thetongue interlocked with the groove the full length of the strips, thereby closing the opening 8 and sealing the joint between its meeting edges in such a manner as to effectually prevent the intrusion of water. As the strips are made of semi-elastic rubber, it will be apparent that, in addition to the closed joint between the meeting faces of the strip, which are tightly bound together, the walls of the tongue and groove will be interlocked under pressure and will thereby form an additional obstruction or dam against the pas-.

Ill)

made. of rubber, a construction of fastening connections will be provided which will be proof against rust or other actions of fresh or salt water. It is to be understood, of course, that if desired the ribs and block may be reinforced by the use of strips of resilient metal embedded therein in the event that,

under such conditions, additional stiffness and resiliency is found to be necessary.

Instead of employing asingle block 16, I may employ a plurality of such blocks 16, as shown in Figure 8, spaced desired distances apart and flexibly united by link members 20 so that acompound pressure applying and locking device will be provided in which, when said device is fully applied, the block 16 of the series will be disposed at different points along the length of the strips. This construction of the pressure applying and locking device may be used under conditions where the suit is liable to be subjected to severe service strains or in order to provide locking means which will absolutely obviate any possibility of the sealing strips separating at an point under service conditions.

In Figures 9 to 12 I have shown a slightly modified construction of life saving suit in which the entrance opening 8 extends vertically between the crotch and neck portions of the suit, instead of transversely of the suit. The construction of the sealing strips extending along the margins of this opening 8* is the same as that heretofore described, but on account of the length of this opening 8 it is considered desirable to either employ a plurality of individual blocks 16 for pressure applying and locking actions, which will be located at different points along the opening when the latter is enclosed, or to employ a compound type of pressure applying and locking device of the character shown in Figure 8, in which the linkage connection allows of the blocks to be simultaneously adj usted instead of requiring independent adjustments as with the individual blocks.

The construction and mode of use of this modified form of suit will be obvious from the foregoing description.

In either form of the invention the sealing strips 11 and 12 are preferably united at the starting end as shown in detail in Figures 11 and 12. These ends of the strips preferably; extend a distance beyond the starting end of the opening 8 or 8 and may be clamped together by a clip 21 having spurs 22 embedded in the strips. A fastener 23 may also be passed through the strips with it sends pinched to hold the parts firmly connected.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides a type of life saving suit which may be applied for use with great ease and in a quick and convenient manner, and that such salt is free from a complexity of parts liable to cause confusion in the mind of a person about to put it on as to how it should be put on, and that when applied the entrance opening 8 or 8, as the case may be, may be sealed by a quick and practically instantaneous closing movement. It is to be understood, of course, that the suit may be provided with any suitable type of means for making it buoyant, and of such sufiieient buoying qualities to keep the wearer afloat for an indefinite period, so that as long as the suit remains intact and is kept sealed the wearer will be sustained in the water. The suit is therefore admirably adapted for life saving purposes on shipboard in the case of sinking of a ship or other disaster, as well as for the use and aid of swimmers in swimming long distances through rough and icy water, as the suit will not only keep the wearer afloat but protect him f om cold and other actions of the elements. he suit may be equipped in practice with suitable means for holding food and other provisions of a suitable character to sustain life or to afford refreshment while the wearer is in the water.

WVhile the -construction disclosed is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, arrangement and details of construction of the parts may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim l. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening having sealing faces, sealing means on said faces adapted to interlock when closing'pressure is applied to said strips to prevent separation of the faces to maintain the same in leak-proof engagement, and means operative on said strips for applying closing pressure thereto.

2. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening exteriorly of the suit, said strips having sealing faces, sealing means on said faces adapted to interlock when closing pressure is applied to said strips, and means longitudinally of and on said strips for applying closing pressure thereto.

3. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, elastic closing strips along the marginal edges of said opening, one having a groove and the other having a tongue to interlock with the groove when closing pressure is applied to said strips, and a wedge fastener slidable on said strips for applying closing pressure thereto. 7

4. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening, said strips having sealing faces and interlocking and sealing means located intermediately of said faces for engagement to hold the faces in contact when pressure is applied to said strips, and a wedge fastener slidable on said strips for applying closing pressure thereto.

5. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening having sealing portions adapted to interlock when closing pressure is applied to said stripsfrom one end to the other of the same, and means for progressively applying pressure to the strips to force said sealing portions into interlocking engagement.

6. A life saving suithaving an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening, one having a groove and the other a tongue to engage the groove, the groove and tongue being of angular cross-section for an interlocking action when engaged, and means for forcing said strips together into sealing contact and to cause an interlocking engagement between the tongue and groove.

7. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips of elastic material extending along the marginal edges of 'said opening, said strips having sealing faces, and one of said strips having a groove and the othera tongue to interlock with the groove, the groove and tongue being ofangular form in cross-section for an elastic sealing and locking engagement only when the strips are forced together, and means for forcing the strips together under pressure into sealing engagement and to cause an interlocking action between the tongue and groove, said means operating to hold the parts connected against displacement.

8. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips extending along the marginal edges of said opening and provided with guide grooves, one of said strips having a locking groove and the other of said strips having a locking tongue to engage said groove, the groove and tongue being of an- I gular form in cross-section for an interlocking connection when engaged, and a sl1d-' ing fastener embracing the strips and slidably engaging the gulde grooves and having surfaces operative to force the strips together and the locking tongue and groove into interlocking engagement.

9. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, elastic closure strips attached to and extending outwardly at right angles from the marginal edges of said opening, said strips having broad sealing faces, one of said strips having av locking groove opening through its sealing face and the other of said strips having a locking tongue for engagement with said groove, the tongue and groove being of angular cross-section for an interlocking action when engaged, and a sliding fastener engaging the strips and operative. for applying a forcing pressure for bringing their sealing faces together and causing an interlocking engagement between the groove and tongue.

10. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of. said opening having. sealing faces and joint closing and locking means upon said sealing faces, and a series of link fasteners slidably engaging said strip and op erative when moved in one direction thereon for forcing the strips into sealing and locking engagement.

11. A life saving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening, and joint closing and lot-king means upon said strips adapted to interlock when the strips are brought under pressure.

12. A hfe saving suit having an entrance openmg, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening having sealing faces adapted to be broughtinto abutting engagement, and joint closing and locking means upon said sealing faces adapted to interlock when the sealing faces are brought into abutting engagement.

13. A lifesaving suit having an entrance opening, closure strips along the marginal edges of said opening having sealing faces, the sealing face of one strip being provided with a groove, and a tongue upon the sealing THOMAS EDGAR AUD. 

